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Newsletter of the Chamber of Commerce
No. 1 - April 2009
Israeli Trees can text message their farmers when thirsty
Israeli scientists have developed a new device that taps into the stem of a tree and when water levels are low, the tree can text a message, e-mail the farmer or turn on the irrigation tap to water itself.
Measuring electric conductivity inside the tree, a parameter of water stress, the Israeli researchers Eran Raveh and Arieh Nadler, from the Volcani Institute of Agriculture, say that Californian citrus and mango farmers, banana plantations and vintners have already expressed interest in the technology, which can be programmed by the farmers themselves.
Now developing the device into a product, the researchers say it will take about 3 to 4 years until the novel device is on the shelves. The device will save farmers up to 30% to 40% in water use.
Israel Praised as World Leader in Water Treatment
Israel may be going through the worst water crisis in its history, but it was commended at an international conference on water in Istanbul, for leading the world in the use of recycled water.
The United Nations report presented at the 5th World Water Forum also ranked Israel as one of the world's leaders in desalinated water use.
Israel recycles nearly 70% of its sewage water for agricultural use. Much of the remainder is treated, but not used in agriculture.
Irrigation Giant Netafim Won a Deal in Brazil
Israeli Netafim won a contract with Etanalc SA in Brazil, to supply irrigation equipment for a 750,000 acre sugar cane plantation located in the Tocatins State in central Brazil. Netafim's share of the project is worth an estimated $ 150 million.
The first stage of the ethanol project is worth more than $ 900 million. Netafim has a subsidiary in Brazil. Netafim's agronomists and engineers will serve as advisors through the first stage of the irrigation project, which is slated to be completed in 2011.
Recently Netafim signed a $ 22 million contract to supply irrigation equipment to Maple Energy for an 80,000 hectare sugar cane plantation in northern Peru. The crop will be used to produce electricity and ethanol.
IBM Israel contributed 88 patents to mother company in 2008
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) far surpassed competitors in 2008 earning a record 4.186 U.S. patents in 2008, and Israel was the 6th largest contributor to its success with 88 patents, ahead of France, India, Italy and China.
According to the report by research firm IFI Patent Intelligence the most patents in order of quantity came from the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Israel.
IBM has a large number of R&D labs in Israel, including a research lab in Haifa, program development labs in Jerusalem, Rechovot and Herzliya, and systems development labs in Tel Aviv and Haifa.
In a separate statement IBM said a surge in sales by Israeli subsidiary XIV in the 4th quarter of 2008 to $ 50 million would lead to an increase in production in Israel. "Our production facilities in Israel will be expanded, together with the growth of XIV systems", said Robert Cancilla, Vice-President of IBM.
Source: Invest in Israel, January 2009
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